Conveyer



Jan. 12 1926.

C. W. SHANABERGER CONVEYER 1925 15 vSheets-Sheet 2 l Filed June 9 Jan. 12 1926.

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C. W. SHANABERGER CONVEYER 15 Sheets-Sheet e Filed June 9, 1925 i /J @@5266 Z/J. a//m en er Jan. 12 1926.

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A C. W. SHANABERGER GONVEYER Filed June 9, 1925 15 Sheets-Sheet 15 Jan. 12 1926.

. c. w. SHANABERGER coNvEYER Filed June 9, 1925 15 Sheets-Sheet 15 @52 /69 Patented Jan. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.'

CHARLES W. SHANABERGER, OF INDIANA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOROF TWO-THIRDS TO JOHN BARNES, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONVEYER.

Application filed June 9, 1925. Serial No. 36,034.

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, Cinnnns lV. SHANA minor-1n, a citizen of the United States, residing atl Indiana, in the county of Indiana and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convcyers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to conveyers and has for a particular object thereof the provision of a coalloading conveyer capable of use in low seam coal loading where the height of the seam is such that any eonveyer employed must be extremely low and flatly constructed. v

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the loading apparatus forming a portion of the conveyer is extremely flexiblsJ and may be readily adjusted to deliver coal to variousl heights or to various angles with relation to the remainder of the machine.

A still further object of the invention is tho provision of a novel and improved con- Voyer loading mechanisml whereby the coal is loadedupon theforward end of the conveying mechanism proper.

lA more specific object of the invention is the provision of a noveland improved adjustable conveyermounting of such character that the conveyer may be readily rotated about a fixed horizontal axis and upon a corresponding vertical axis. f

A still further object of the invention is an improvement of the construction of the conveyor elements proper to provide a drive therefor and mountings for the drive such that this drive may be employed to support the conveyer and thereby eliminating the necessity for additional supports and accordingly a considerable amount of weight: 1 A still further object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the machine may be bodily shifted and its movements governed so that it. ma)T be moved into coal to load the same.

'lhe invention further residesin the various details of construction employed, as shown in the accompanying` drawings, wherein l `igure 1 is a top plan view of the forward end of a conveyer constructed .in accordance with my invention;

Figure 1a is a plan view of the rear end of this conveyer;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the forward end of a conveyer constructed in accordance with my invention;l l

Figure 2a is a side elevation of the rear end thereof;

Figure 3 is a plan ofthe base of the machine and the associated mechanism;

Figure 4 is a perspective of the shovel base plate and the associated attached parts;

Figure 5 is a perspective of the shoe of the shovel and its attached parts;

Figure 6 isy a plan of the middle conveyer structure, portions being broken away to show the motor deck plate and the supporting plates for the middle conveyer;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the middle conveyer structure and its supports;

Figure 8 is a perspective of the forward end of the middle conveyer;l

Figure 9 a vertical sectional viewy through the turntable structure supporting the rear conveyer;

Figure l() is a side elevation partially in section of the turntable structure;

Figure 11 is an end elevation of a bearing ofthe turntable structure;

Figure 12 is a plan View of the turntable y element;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary end elevation thereof; 4 i

Figure 14 vis a detailed sectional view showing the detachable gear;

Figure 15 is a longitudinal sectional view through the shovel showing the connections of the forward ends of the middle conveyer therewith;

lFigure 16 is a plan view of the guide mechanism for the shovel conveyers;

Figure 16a is a side elevation of the guide;l

Figure 17 is a sectional view through the guide showing the mounting of the rollers;

Figure 18 is an enlarged perspective of the shoe of the shovel and the guide platel employed for connecting the upper shovel plate thereto; i

Figure 19 is a sectional view through the shoe and the adjacent portions of the guide plate and upper and lower plates of the shovel; f

'Figure 20 is a vertical sectional view through the drive mounting of the shovel conveyers Figure 21 is a view with the upper section of the housing removed, the drive shaft being shown in section;

Figure 22 is a side elevation of the rear conveyer through one of the rope drums and the mechanism for controlling the same;

Figure 28 is a vertical sectional view showing the planetary transmission mechanism;

Figure 29 is an end elevation of the shaft attached and of the rope drum control;

Figure is a plan view of one of the scraper arms of the shovel conveyer mechanism having applied thereto cutting bits;

Figure 31 is an end elevation of the scraper arms shown in Figure 30;

Figure 32 is a vertical sectional view through'the sheave plate mounting on. the shovel conveyei;

. Figure 33 is a plan view partially diagrammatic showing one manner of connectin the jack posts to the cables of the machme to shift the machine;

Figure 34 is a perspective view ofthe jack mehanism employed for hoisting .the rear end of the conveyer when operating upon uneven surfaces; and

Figure 35 is a detailed section Ataken through one of the ack elements.

`Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the loading apparatus includes a base, generally designated at 10, upon which are mountedV a forward or loading conveyer structure 11, a central conveyer structure 12,l

and a rear conveyer structure 13 together with a common drive comprising a motor 14 for all of said conveyers and, as will hereinafter more fully appear, for the mechanism for bodily shifting the entire machine. The base 10, which is more particularly illustrated in Figure 3, has at its forwa'rd'end a shoe 15 as more clearly shown in Figures 18 and 19. This shoe is notched at its under surface for the reception of the forward edge of a base plate 16 extending the entire width of the shoe and rigidly secured thereto. The rear edge of the shoe attached plate 16 is engaged bythe forward edge of a bottom shovel plate 17 (Figures 4 and 5) and is rigidly secured thereto by angle irons 18 which are riveted to each ofthe plates. To the rear end f the shovel base plate 17 are secured a Vpair of parallel angle irons 19 forming side frames for the base. At the rear end of the shovel base plate 17 to one of the angle irons 19 is secured a motor deck plate 20 (Figures Gand 7) upon which the motor 14 is mounted. This motor deck plate and the opposite angle iron 19 have mounted thereon bearings 21 and 22 for the reception of a counter-shaft 23 which is driven from the motor by a sprocket chain 24 (Figure 3). This sprocket chain engages the sprocket of a combined sprocket and bevel gear unit 25 rotatably mounted upon the shaft 23. Splined upon the shaft 23 is a clutch jaw 26 coacting with the clutch jaw 27 formed upon the combined sprocket and bevel gear u'nit and shiftable through a fork 28 to connect or disconnect this unit.

The front and rear walls of the motor deck plate have secured thereto vertical plates29 and 30 (Figures 6 and 7), hereinafter referred to as front and rear support plates, respectively. The rear support plate 30 has secured thereto a bearing 31 in which is mounted the forward end of a line shaft 32 extending longitudinally of the rear end' movement thereof. The rear end of the line shaft 32 extends through bearings 36 and 37 formed at the forward and rear ends respectively of a turntable base 38 which is rigidly secured to the angle irons 19 and joins the rear ends thereof. )Vithin the turntable base, the lineshaftphas splined thereto a bevel pinion 39 (Figures 2 and 9) having a jaw clutch 40`coacting with a jaw.

clutch 41 splined to the line shaft 32 and operable through ashifter 42 from either side of the machine. The line shaft 32 is formed in two sections 32a and 33, these. sections being the forward and rear sections of the line shaft respectively. The division in the line shaft occurs rearwardly of the worm 35 and the sections are joined by a flexible coupling-43, at present indicated as being of the jaw type. The worm 35, hereinbefore described, providesa take-off` for a drive for the shifting control mechanism, hereinafter to be more fully described.

Upon theshovel base plate 17 are secured a pair of bearing units 44 (Figures 20 and 21), each providing a bearing 45 for a forwardly and upwardly inclining shaft 46 and a bearing and worm housing 47 for a shaft 48 having at each end thereof a worm 49 (Figure The shaft 48 is formed in two sections 48a and 48b connected by a flexible coupling 50 arranged adjacent one of the worm housings.47. At the approximate center of theplate 17, a bearing 51 is provided for the inner end of the shaft section 48a` and between this bearing and the` end thereof engaged'in the worm housing 49, the shaft section 48a has 'securedf thereto a sprocket 52 connected by a chain 53 with a vertical anges in which are mounted the ends of a transversely extending stationary shaft 57.

The middle conveyer 12 (Figures 6to 8)' has an inclining portion 58 and a horizontal portion 59. A vportion lof the incline 58 and the entire horizontal section are-provided with upwardly diverging retaining walls 60 while the forward lower end of the inclining portion consists simply of side bars 61 and a bottom plate 62 secured to these side bars. At their forward ends, the side bars 61 havesecured thereto supporting yokes 63,

the outer faces of which vfit between adja cent faces of the gussets 56 and embrace the shaft 57. By this means, the forward end of the central conveyer is rigidly supported, being held both against vertical anditransverse movement. The upper end of the in- -clined section 58 is rigidly secured to the front support plate 29 by gnssets 64.

Rigidly secured to opposite sides of the horizontal section 5 9 of the central conveyer 12 Iare power brackets 65 (Figure 2), each having bearings for the reception of three shafts 66,67 and 68. These shafts are substantially horizontally aligned and the shaft 66 is driven from the counter-shaft 23 by a chain drive 69. Corresponding ends-of the ..1 shafts 66, 67, have secured thereto a pinion 70 and a gear 71. Inwardly of the power bracket 65, the shaftv67 has'secured thereto sprockets 72 engaging chains 73 ofthe conveyer. Upon the shafts 66 and 68, in alignment with these sprockets, are arranged idler rollers 74 over which the chain passes, this chain being passed over one roller under the sprocket and then over the second roller of the three shafts. Uponthe shaft 57 are arranged idler sprockets'7 5 over which theconveyer chains pass.' At the rear -end of the horizontal section 59, adjustable yokes 76 are mounted having arranged therein a.

shaft 77 having idler rollers 78 about which the chain passes.

course, be provided with suitable flights 79 of any desired-construction. The shaft .68 is stationary and immediately inwardly of the power bracket passes through openings formed in gusset' plates 80 rigidly secured to the rear support plates 30. 'It will be observed that the necessary idler shafts* of the central conveyer have been brought into play as a means for providing a support for -this conv-ayer and 1t willl likewise be noted that the support plates 29 and 30 together with the vactual cnveyer .structure combine to form a housing for the motor .14.

I The total elevationprovided for'the horizontal section of the middle conveyer will head clearance in operating in a low vertical opening 85 through whic These chains will, ofl

be just suiicient to provide the-necessary clearance for the motor. This structure so compacts the drive and conveyer structure that the over all height` of the machine actually produced from the bottom of ther base plate to the top of the. retaining walls 60 is but thirty inches, thus allowing ample over-- coal seam. j' The rear conveyer 13 is supported from a turntableJ 'structure (Figures 9 to 14), the

base 38 of which has been previously mentioned. This base which is rigidly secured to the angleirons 19 has at its upper end an outstanding circular flange -81 upon which is seated the rotatable portion 82 of the` .turntable structure. This plate has diametrically opposedgibs 83and 84 engaging beneath the liange v81 securing `the'ro- 'tatable structure the-reto. The gib 83 is fixed whilethe gib 84 is removably mounted so that the sections of the turntable may be readily separated for convenience in replacement or repair. The rotatable structure of' the turntable has an'axial hushed 1s directed the hub 86 of a bevel gear 87 which meshes with the pinion 39 of the line shaft 32. This hub has a vcentral borereceivi-ng the shaft'88 of, a bevel gear 89 and this the outer ends of the caps thereof finished,

as at 93, to providesaxes for vertical adjustment of the free end of the rear'conveyer 13.

4Upon this shaft adjacent the central bearing and meshing with the gear 89 is a bevel gear 94providing a drive for the shaft.

The rear conveyer (Figures v22 to"26) includes a pair of power brackets 95, each having a bearing 96, these bearings receiving the lfinished `outer end93 of the outbea'rings 92 vand bearings 97 and 98 receiv-l ing shafts 99 and 100. The shafts 90 andv 99 project at one side of the machine and have mounted thereon a pinion 101- and gear 102 respectively, so. that the shaft 99 is driven from the shaft 90. This shaft 99 has securedv thereto drive' sprockets 103 engaging the chains 104 ofthe rear conveyer. EachV of the shafts 90 and 100 is provided with idler rollers 105 aboutfwhich the chains j 104 pass, the'engagement of the chains with the sprockets and rollers being similar to the'engagement previously described in connection with the intermediate conveyer.

The upper surface of the rear' rotatable' structure 824 of the turntable is provided with arcuately` dished sockets 106 .(Figure .20) in which is seated bearings 107 having rojecting rearwardly and upwardly there.- rom arms 108'having bearings at their outer ends, as indicated at 109 for a manually operated shaft 110 to which is secured worms 111. Seated upon the bearings 107 are Worm gears 112 having an axial worm threaded opening through which is direct- 7 ed a worm 113 having its lower end directed through an openingformed in the bearing 107 and through enlarged openings 114 formed in the upper turntable structure so that the lower end of this shaft may move with relation to the structure. The .upper ends of the worms. 1,13 are eaclrprovded with yokes 115 embracing the shaft 100. 'lhe structure just described provides means for vertically adjusting the rear end of the rear conveyer 13 and, as will be obvious, a

. means for supporting the rear or otherwise unsupported end .of this conveyer. It will be obvious. that the rear conveyer may be readily shifted upon its turntable base and that in any of its shifted positions may have this free end vertically adjusted about the bearings 19 as an axis without in any'manner impairing the support aiforded for this end. At the ends of the rear conveyer'13, suitable idlers are provided as in the` case of the central conveyer, one of these idlers indicatedat 11.6, being adjustable to take up slack in the chain. It will, ofcourse, 4be obviousthat each offthe central andrcar conveyers are provided with the usual return flight guides, generally designated at 117 and 118 respectively on these conveyers.

The shovel at the forward end of the y machine (Figures land 15) includes an upper plate 119 .forming a base for the forward or loading conveyer. This plate has attached to its forward edge an aligning plate 120, the forward edge of which is pro-.

lvided with spaced notches.121. vThe shoe v(Figures 18 and 19), the upper surface 122 of which diverges from its liat lower face 123., has formed therein in its rear edge a channel 124 paralleling jthis upper surface and spaced from the upper surface a distance equal to the thic ness of the upper shoe plate 119.. Mounted in the shoe and intersecting this channel 124 are pins 125 corresponding in number and arrangement to the notches 121 and entering these notches as the aligning platev 120 enters the channel 124so that the aligning plate and the .forward edge of the slice plate 119 are held 'against transverse movement with -relation -to the shoe. Escape of this aligning plate from the channel is prevented by the upper ends of the bearing units 44 which are rigidly bolted thereto. This upper shoe plate inclines upwardand rearwardly and extends over the -forward lower end of the inclined( portion of the middle -conveyer 12. The angle of the`middle conveyer is slightly greater than the angle of the upper shoe plate and the rear edge of the shoe plate is centrally notched, as at 125, to provide for the passage of this upper conveyer. At this notch, the'plate 119 has secured thereto a bib 126 having the same angle as the upper conveyer and projecting upwardly over the surface of the conveyer so that material fed to the forward end of the mid- -dleconveyer does not engage with the middle conveyer until it has passed well up up- -on the inclined portion of the conveyer and accordingly is withheld from spilling to the forward end-of the conveyer. Since a certain portion of the material will spill to the forward end of the conveyer and since occasionally, on all such conveyers, it is necessary to reverse the direction of motion of the conveyer to relieve congestion, the

bottom plate 17 between the gussets 56 has.

ranged upon oppositesides of the center. of .the shovel and operating to deliver ma- -9 -terial to the center of the machine and through the notch 125. Each conveyer sec-l tion of the forward conveyer includes a drive shaft 46 hereinbefore mentioned, to l the lower end of which is secured a worm Thus means are pro-J gear 128 meshing with the corresponding worm 49 of the shaft 48. The upper ends of these drive shafts project above the -upper surface of the plate 119 andl have secured thereto hand sprockets 129. Each conveyer unit further includes an adjustable guiding element 130 including upper and lower plates '131 and 132. The sides of these plates converge toward the hand sprocket and the lower late has formed in its sides at its rear en s grooves 133 for guiding sprocket chains 134 operating about the associated sprocket. A t is forward-end,

the lower plate provides a mounting .for idler rollers 135 a'nd 136, -these rollers being removable lupon removal of the upper plate 131 and forming vwith the plates a -continuation 4of the guiding groove for the chain. The rear -end of the lower plate is bifurcated and the opposed arm portions thus provided form slides 137 engaging a guide and thrust block 138 rigidly secured to the plate 119. At the inner end of the furcation, a thrust block 139 is secured between the upper and lower plates. and is abutted by the head 140 of' an adjusting screw 141 threaded through the combined thrust and guide block 138. Means is thus provided for adjusting the plates 131, 4132 and their idler rollers mounted therein to take up any slack occurring inthe chains Secured 4to cach of the chains 134 at spaced intervals are special links provid-l ing pivots 142 for scraper arms 143 (Figures 3() and 31). Each scraper arm 143 has i an out-standing flat front face 144 disposed mitting the passage of the chain 134 therethrough. lVhen the chain is passingabout that portion of the conveyer provided by the edges of the plates 131, 132, the end surfaces 147 of the arms 148 formed by slotting the tail, bear against the edges of these plates and support the scraper arms with the faces 144 thereof at right angles to the line of travel of' the` chain. wWhen, how ver, the surfaces 147 leave the edges of t e plates 131, 132, the arms are permitted to drop back through an angle of 45' or until the bases of the notches 146 come into engagement with the chains. As the links bearing the scraper arms pass about lthe sprocket, the surfaces 147 engage against the hubs of the sprocket to provide a support for the links. Between the hub of thissprocket and the adjacent edge of the guide at that side of each conveyer unit where the fiights are leaving the sprocket, guides 14 are provided providing a bevel slope camming the tail of the scraper arm outwardly so that the scraper arm is properly positioned to engage against the.

guide plates 131, 132 when it comes into opposition thereto. The Aplates 131, 132 will, of course, be secured in their adjusted positions upon the plate 119 in some suitable manner.l While the general structure of the scraper arms above 'described will be adhered to, it will, of course, be understood that these arms will be modified considerably to meet? different reqiurements. If desired, the front 'face of the arm may have attached thereto an extension such as generally designated at- 150. On other occasions, it is found desirable to apply to these arms a structure whereby coal bits 151 may be attachedto the arms. Such a structure l have illustrated in Figures 30 and 31 and consists of va plate 152 rigidly secured tothe rear face of the arm 143 as, for example, by riveting, as at 154. This plate has in its forward face channels 155 combining with the rear face of the arm 143 to produce sockets for the reception pf the Shanks 156 of the bits. Through the rear face of the plateA 153', set-screws 157 may be directed for holding the coal bits in position in these sockets.

Extending beneath and4 connecting the angle irons 19 immediately rearwardly of the motor deck plate is a base plate 158 to which and to the rear support plate 30, parallel vertical plates 159 are secured by means of angle irons 160 and 161. Between the vertical plates 159 is secured a housing 162 for the worm 35 and for a drum gear 163 meshing with this drum. Mounted in the worm gear is a transversely entending shaft 164 having its ends mounted in outbearings 165 secured to the angle irons 19. At each side ofthe plates 159,` this shaft has mounted thereon a rope drum structure and drive therefor, more clearly shown in Figures 27, 28 and 29. Each rope drum structure includes a drum 166 rotatably mounted upon th shaft 164 and having formed upon its outer end a flange 167, a. brake flange 168 engaged by thefbrake band 169 suitably controlled by a hand wheel 170. To the end flange 167 is likewise secured a sun gear 171 lupon the hub 172 of which is rotatably mounted a second sun gear 173. The hub of the sun gear 173 has an outstanding flange 174, the end of whichis provided with a braking flange 175 having coacting therewith a suitably controlled brake band 176. Secured to the shaft at the open side of the structure formed by the sun gear and its associated flanges is a disk 177 having mounted thereon at Icircumferentially spaced points gear units 17 8, each including a planet gear 179 meshingl with the sun ear 171 and a second planet gear 180 meshing with the sun gear V17 3. It

-will be obvious that u on braking of the sun gear structure 173 t rough its associated brake 176, the planetary train is brought into operation and the drum will be driven at a reduced s eed. `Means are also provided for locking t is drum to the' shaftfor rotation therewith so that a second and higher speed of the drum is provided. `This means may take any suitable form and in the' present instance is illustrated as including a shifting collar 181 mounted upon the shaft 164 outwardly of the disk 177 This collar has dogging teeth,182 extending into correspondin'g openings 183 formed in' the ldisk v 1v 7. The sun ear is provided with corresponding opemngs 184 so that when the collar 181`is shifted toward the drum, the

ends of the dogging teeth 182 willenter the openings 184 and lock the sun gear 171 and accordingly the drum 166 to the disk, 177.

Engaged with each drum 166' is one end. of a cable 185,' the free end of which is passed beneath a guide pulley 186 secured to the forward end of the stationary base of the turntable, as more clearly shown in Figure 2a and hence beneath thel turntable and From the outer pulley -188 which has its face projectedv 

